through the upper deck, and shortly after the mizzen rigging caught
fire. Fears were entertained of the ship paying off, in which case the
flames would have been swept forwards by the wind; but fortunately the
after-braces were burnt through, and the main-yard swung round, which
kept the ship's head to wind. About nine P. M., a fearful explosion
took place in the port magazine, arising, no doubt, from the one or two
barrels of powder which it had been impossible to remove. By this time
the ship was one body of flame, from the stern to the main rigging, and
thinking it scarcely possible to save her, Captain Castle called Major
Brett (then in command of the troops, for the Colonel was in one of
the boats) forward, and, telling him that he feared the ship was lost,
requested him to endeavor to keep order amongst the troops till the
last, but, at the same time, to use every exertion to check the
fire. Providentially, the iron bulkhead in the after-part of the
ship withstood the action of the flames, and here all efforts were
concentrated to keep it cool.

"'No person,' says the captain, 'can describe the manner in which the
men worked to keep the fire back; one party were below, keeping the
bulkhead cool, and when several were dragged up senseless, fresh
volunteers took their places, who were, however, soon in the same state.
At about ten P. M., the maintopsail-yard took fire. Mr. Welch, one
quartermaster, and four or five soldiers, went aloft with wet blankets,
and succeeded in extinguishing it, but not until the yard and mast were
nearly burnt through. The work of fighting the fire below continued for
hours, and about midnight it appeared that some impression was made; and
after that, the men drove it back, inch by inch, until daylight, when
they had completely got it under. The ship was now in a frightful
plight. The after-part was literally burnt out--merely the shell
remaining--the port quarter blown out by the explosion: fifteen feet of